On April 19, 2002, Alice in Chains lead singer Layne Staley's body was found in a Seattle apartment by his mom, dad, and city cops. According to the autopsy, he had OD-ed on a combination of heroin and cocaine approximately two weeks earlier.
Most grunge fans and rock observers assumed that Alice in Chains died that day too. But three years later, guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell reassembled the band for a reunion tour. And eventually, Cantrell and crew released their first album -- 2008's Black Gives Way to Blue -- without Staley.
Now Alice in Chains is planning another Layne-less record -- not to mention a 12-city Spring 2013 U.S. tour that'll be kicking off at the Fillmore Miami Beach on April 25.
See also:
-Q&A: Alice in Chains Talks Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, a "Jab at Ultra-Right Religious Conservatives"
Alice in Chains' 2013 Tour Schedule
April 25 The Fillmore, Miami Beach, FL
April 30 BUCC Concert Hall, Birmingham, AL
May 1 William B. Bell Auditorium, Augusta, GA
May 5 Norva, Norfolk, VA
May 7 Sands Event Center, Bethlehem, PA
May 8 Benedum Center, Pittsburgh, PA
May 14 Lyons Fairgrounds, Sioux Falls, SD
May 15 Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
May 18 Susquehanna Bank Center, Philadelphia, PA
May 21 Embassy Theatre, Fort Wayne, IN
May 22 Aiken Theatre, Evansville, IN
May 24 Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater, Lincoln, NE
A couple of years ago, another original member, Mike Starr, also died of a drug overdose.
So now the band only features two founding figures, Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney -- playing alongside Staley's fill-in, vocalist/guitarist William DuVall, and longtime bassist Mike Inez, who replaced Starr in 1993.
But Cantrell doesn't consider the "new" Alice in Chains to be a lesser incarnation of the great '90s grunge band.
"In my opinion, [Black Gives Way to Blue] stood up to anything else we've put out in our career," he told Guitar World last month.
"And this new one is right up there as well."
Alice in Chains. Thursday, April 25. Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $39.50 plus fees via livenation.com. Call 305-673-7300 or visit fillmoremb.com.
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